Student/Therapist Resources

Chapter 6: Hygiene and Safety

Key Concepts

• The main goal of this chapter is present the special hygiene and safety issues associated with hydrotherapy treatments 
  
  
• Many germs, including viruses, bacteria, yeasts (molds) and some microscopic parasites can be transferred via water, from an infected person to a therapist or another client. Today, there are special concern with the new strains of staphylococcus, known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), that have developed a resistance to modern antibiotics and are more difficult to treat.
  
  
• Whether another person will be infected by these germs depends one the concentration (amount) of the germs, degree of contact with another person and health of the person that the germs come in contact with.
  
  
• The hydrotherapy room and equipment, must be cleaned properly after each treatment.
  
  
• In addition to cleaning the hydrotherapy room and equipment, to prevent the spread of infection from one person to another in a hydrotherapy treatment room, all surfaces (and also sheets and towels) that comes in contact with water that water that has come in contact with a client, must be disinfected. Disinfectants are designed to kill a wide range of germs and broad-spectrum disinfectants are normally used for this purpose. Special attention needs to be given to hydrotherapy equipment that re-circulates water, for example in a hydrotub.
  
  
• Water is a lubricant and makes many surfaces that it comes into contact with slippery. We floors and other surfaces in a hydrotherapy treatment room, increase the risk of clients slipping and being injured.
  
  
• Heat treatments, such as steam treatments, can make clients dizzy as they stand and try to walk. Also, hydrotub and flotation treatments can make clients unsteady as they stand and begin to walk. Precautions must be used to assist clients so that they do not fall after these treatments.

Additional suggested Study, Research and Teaching Exercises

Hygiene
Internet Educational Resource: 

Benefect Broad-spectrum Disinfectant Link 

Suggested Reading 

Playing It Safe: Milady’s Guide to Decontamination, Sterilization, and Personal Protection: Chesky, S., Cristina, I., Rosenberg, R., (1994). Playing It Safe: Milady’s Guide to Decontamination, Sterilization, and Personal Protection. Albany, New York: Milady Publishing.
This a short, detailed book that covers the principles of hygiene in salon, spa and wellness center setting.

Students Skills

After studying Chapter 6, as student or therapist should have greater understanding of the hygiene and safety issues that are related to hydrotherapy and be able to develop the skills for working with the special hygiene and safety issues found in hydrotherapy treatment room and with hydrotherapy equipment.